Highfalutin Hillbilly

With their ten-gallon hats, rhinestone suits and boots, and high-energy, Jimmy Martin-style sass, there’s little understated about the Kody Norris Show.  The band’s new album, and third for Rebel Records, really captures the band’s high-energy, good-timey live vibe, which is shot through with a bit of tongue-in-cheek. This is exemplified by a delightful, rapid-fire cover of Leroy Van Dyke’s “The Auctioneer,” infused with rapid-fire patter and excellent musicianship. (Turns out bandleader Kody Norris actually went to auctioneer’s school.)

Also on the lighter side is an appropriately squirrely version of Ray Stevens’ “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” and a boisterous rendition of a Jimmy Dickens/Boudleaux Bryant oldie called “Waitress, Waitress.”

But there’s a lot more here than just grins and giggles. Fiddler-vocalist Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris turns in a heartfelt and sorrowful lament with her original “Blue Ain’t The Word.” She also steps out with a warm, bluegrassy remake of “San Antonio Stroll,” a Tanya Tucker hit of yesteryear on which she’s joined on vocals by three members of Sister Sadie: Gena Britt, Jaelee Roberts and Deanie Richardson.

The band also deftly channels some Jimmy Martin with a hearty revival of their hero’s classic, “Tennessee.” Kody captures a similar Martinesque spirit with a pair of inspired originals: “Ruby Jane” and “Ramblin’ Around.”